Horse Racing Betting - Horses to Watch

Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should do well next time out or improve considerably, won five races, ran second twice and finished third two times since Feb. 14.

AQUEDUCT

Charlie Caliente: Broke slowly sixth and last, trailed inside by more than seven lengths after a half-mile, advanced to third in stretch, angled out, made up more than 6 ½ lengths and finished a game second beaten 1 ½ lengths at a mile on March 28.

GULFSTREAM PARK

Manhasset Indian: Raced more than seven lengths behind in eighth after three-eighths of a mile, eased out in stretch, rallied from sixth to make up more than 5 ¼ lengths and finished second full of run beaten 1 ¼ lengths at five furlongs on the turf March 28.

HAWTHORNE

Open Bar: Raced 10 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, swung out seven wide into stretch, closed from fifth to make up 1 ¾ lengths and finished second by a half-length at six furlongs March 22.

LAUREL PARK

Take a Check: Raced five lengths behind in third after a half-mile, launched rally near five-sixteenths pole, lost ground into stretch, closed steadily to make up 4 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on March 27.OAKLAWN PARK

Lord’s View: Raced more than 4 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, roused for drive, made up three lengths in stretch and gained second by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on March 27.

PHILADELPHIA PARK

De Fearless One: Raced more than 6 ½ lengths behind in seventh after three-eighths of a mile, rallied extremely wide from fourth in stretch, made up more than 3 ¾ lengths and closed with good energy to finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 5 ½ furlongs on March 25.

SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK

La Estrellita: Raced sixth more than 11 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied from fifth five wide into stretch, closed fast to make up 4 ¾ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile and 70 yards on March 28.

SANTA ANITA

River Echo: Crowded after breaking seventh and last, raced 4 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, came out four wide into stretch, made up four lengths and finished well in second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on March 27; ran final quarter in 23 1/5.

TURF PARADISE

Sharpster: Raced more than four lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, came six wide into stretch, rallied to make up more than 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a nose at mile on March 28.

TURFWAY PARK

Why Yield: Raced more than 6 ½ lengths behind in 10th after a half-mile, closed fast outside from fifth in stretch and gained second by a nose at 6 ½ furlongs on March 27.

NBA odds: Nuggets vs. Suns

A critical home-and-home series begins tonight in Phoenix between the Suns and streaking Nuggets, with Denver a 6.5-point betting underdog (234.5 over/under) on WagerWeb.com.

The Suns are just a half-game behind the division-leading Lakers in the Pacific and only 1.5 games out of the top spot in the West, while Denver is in a three-way tie with Dallas and Golden State for the final two playoff spots in the conference.

"Every game is important from here on out," said guard Allen Iverson. "We understand even if we got this one, we've got to concentrate on getting the next one. We're not satisfied."

Denver has won five games in a row and eight of 10, the latest a 119-112 home victory against Golden State. But the Nuggets have lost six straight games in Phoenix. Denver, which has won three in a row as the visitor, is 15-21 on the road this season.

The Nuggets have scored at least 100 points in 14 straight games(averaging 120.0) and are getting points from sources other than Carmelo Anthony (who has shot .500 or better in 10 of his last 11 games) and Iverson. Kenyon Martin, for example, had a season-high 30 against the Warriors. He is averaging 17.5 points over his last eight games, while reserve J.R. Smith has given the Nuggets 15.5 per game in that stretch.

Iverson suffered a non-displaced fracture on his right ring finger Saturday, but is expected to play tonight.The Suns have won five in a row at home, nine of 11 overall, and are 26-10 as the host this season.

Phoenix is coming off a 110-104 victory over New Jersey on Saturday, led by Amare Stoudemire's 33 points and 15 rebounds. Stoudemire has scored 30 or more in four of his last five games, averaging 31.6 points over that span.

"Amare is really our go-to guy," Shaquille O'Neal said. "He's playing fabulous. He's putting up MVP-type numbers. Everybody else is just asked to play roles and that's fine with me."

O'Neal, who initially struggled in the Suns' up-tempo system, is averaging 16.6 points and 10.0 rebounds in his last five games.

Starter Grant Hill (strained groin/sprained right wrist) is questionable for the Suns. Hill is averaging 13.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 64 games this season. He did not play in the win against the Nets. Plus, point guard Steve Nash has been bothered by a muscle spasm in his shoulder - but he will play.

The teams have split two meetings this year, but the Suns lit up Denver in the game in Phoenix, making made a franchise-record 20 shots from 3-point range in a 137-115 home win.

Betting trends: Denver is 40-33 ATS, Phoenix is 34-36-3. ... Denver is 42-31 vs. over/under, Phoenix is 41-32. ... Over is 8-3 in Denver's last 11 road games. ... Over is 20-8 in Denver's last 28 overall. ... Over is 10-4 in Denver's last 14 vs. Western Conference. ... Over is 9-3 in Phoenix's last 12 home games. ... Under is 10-4 in Phoenix's last 14 vs. Northwest Division teams. ... Phoenix is 7-3-1 ATS in its last 11 games overall.

The last word: The over/under in this game is 25 points more than any other game on the board tonight. Yet it's still hard not to like the over.

NHL odds: Penguins vs. Rangers

The last week of hockey season is upon us, so it's time to start focusing on some NHL betting action with the postseason close to beginning.

First off, however, is determining the seeding for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Penguins enter the second of a home-and-home set with the New York Rangers holding a one-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens atop the Eastern Conference. They can't clinch the East in Monday's game in New York, but they can clinch the Atlantic Division (NY is a -135 money line favorite at WagerWeb.com, with an over/under of 5.5).

Pittsburgh has a six-point cushion over the Devils in the Atlantic with three games to play. One win or one regulation loss by the Devils in their final four games will give the Penguins their first division title since 1997-98.

The Canadiens will have a game in hand after Monday, but the Penguins feel they hold the advantage in the race to claim home-ice advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

"We control our own destiny to win the conference," Pittsburgh defenseman Ryan Whitney said. "If we can win out, we finish first in the conference and that's been our goal all year."

The Penguins won the front end of this set on Sunday afternoon, downing the Rangers, 3-1. Evgeni Malkin scored the go-ahead goal late in the first period to give him 104 points (46 goals, 58 assists) on the season, second-most in the league.

Playing in his second game since missing 28 of Pittsburgh's previous 31 contests due to a high ankle sprain, Sidney Crosby posted a pair of assists for the Pens, who have won three straight and five of their last six.

It was the first game that Crosby and Marian Hossa, acquired from the Thrashers at the trade deadline, had played on the same line."Yeah, it's been kind of tough," said Crosby, who assisted on a Hossa goal. "But we're going to continue to get better, I think. The chemistry's there, we've just got to make sure we take advantage of our chances."Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, meanwhile, has won his last seven starts while posting a 1.14 goals- gainst average. He hasn't allowed more than two goals in any of those wins and is 2-1-1 with a 2.25 goals-against average in four starts vs. the Rangers this year.

With four games left, the Rangers can still finish anywhere from the fourth spot in the crowded East -- which would give them home-ice advantage for a playoff series for the first time since 1995-96 -- to out of the playoffs entirely.

New York's loss in Pittsburgh was just the third time it had lost in regulation in its last 21 games. And it was the first time the Rangers failed to gain a point in six games.

Scoring has been a problem for the Rangers all season -- only two Eastern Conference teams have scored fewer than their 203 goals.

They're 5-3-2 over their last 10 games, but have put up just 18 goals in that stretch, including a combined two by Brendan Shanahan and Chris Drury, who are tied for the team lead with 23 goals apiece.

Henrik Lundqvist has been stellar in net, however. He's 6-3-1 with a 1.76 GAA in his last 10 starts. Lundqvist has been in goal for all seven games against Pittsburgh this season, going 4-3-0 with a 2.00 GAA. The Rangers have won all three games against the Penguins at Madison Square Garden, outscoring them 13-4.

Betting trends: PIT is 43-36 ATS overall. PIT is 8-2 in its last 10 vs. Atlantic. ... Under is 20-8-3 in PIT's last 31 Monday games. ... Over is 7-3 in PIT's last 10 road games. ... NYR are 38-40 ATS overall. ... Under is 8-2-1 in NYR's last 11 overall. ... Under is 19-7-2 in NYR's last 28 Monday games. ... NYR are 18-8 in their last 26 vs. Atlantic. ... Home team is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings between these two teams. ... Under is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings.

The last word: Look at that home record in this series. Hard not to like the Rangers tonight.

MLB odds - Mets vs. Marlins

Johan Santana debuts for the New York Mets today, and the Opening Day matchup almost seems unfair.

The pitcher opposing the two-time Cy Young Award winner? Florida's Mark Hendrickson.

The same Mark Hendrickson who, a year ago in Los Angeles, split time between starting and relieving. In all, he appeared in 39 games and made 15 starts, going 4-8 with a 5.21 ERA last season in Los Angeles. For his career, he is 43-55 with a 5.01 ERA in 179 games. This will be his first Opening Day start - and undoubtedly the last.

No wonder New York is a big -220 money line favorite on WagerWeb.com (over/under: 8 runs).

All eyes will be on Santana in his National League debut today, and he's ready for that.

"It's another opening day, but at the same time, I'm very excited," said Santana, who was 93-44 in parts of eight seasons with the Minnesota Twins and wound up signing a $137.5 million, six-year contract with New York - the most money ever for a pitcher. "New uniform, a lot of expectations and I'm very happy for it. Hopefully everything will go the way everybody wants."

Santana has 983 strikeouts since 2004 - 139 more than any other pitcher in baseball over that stretch.

"He's one of the best pitchers in the game," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "Obviously we take the wraps off and we get a chance to see a great pitcher work, but the beauty of it that he's going to be there every fifth day for me. So every day is a good day."Santana started the opener for Minnesota each of the past two seasons, going 1-1: He lost to Toronto 6-3 two years ago, then beat Baltimore 7-4 last season.

The Mets open in a city, Miami, where last season ended. On the final day of the 2007 season, the Mets were tied with the Phillies for the NL East lead heading into a matchup with last-place Florida. Ace left-hander Tom Glavine gave up seven runs in one-third of an inning against the Marlins, a fitting end to New York's epic collapse that handed Philadelphia the division title.

"For us, it's officially the end of what happened last year," said Mets 3B David Wright of today's first pitch. "Although everybody has put it behind them, this kind of marks the beginning of 2008 and a new opportunity for us."

Wright, incidentally, struggled the first month of last season, hitting hit .244 with six RBIs and no homers.

Florida, meanwhile, has taken a step back from last year, and that's saying something with the team coming off a 71-91 season. But the Marlins are rebuilding again, having traded stars Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers.

Betting trends: Over is 12-2-1 in Mets' last 15 overall. ... Over is 12-2-1 in NYM last 15 on grass. ... Over is 15-7-1 in NYM last 23 Monday games. ... Marlins are 0-9 in their last 9 Monday games. ... Over is 12-5-1 in Florida's last 18 home games. ... NYM are 10-1 in the last 11 meetings in Florida. ... Over is 7-1-1 in the last 9 meetings.

The last word: For what it's worth, the Mets have the highest Opening Day winning percentage in baseball: .630. And they were 11-7 against Florida last year, with eight of those wins coming on the road. Plus, many of the Marlins haven't seen Santana much if at all. This should be a rout.

March Madness odds: Davidson vs. Kansas

2008 ncca tournament bracket
2008 ncca tournament schedule
NCAA tournament bracket
If you go by seeding alone, then Kansas should have the easiest cakewalk in the Elite Eight games. The Midwest Region's top-seeded Jayhawks (34-3) take on No. 10 Davidson (29-6) Sunday evening in Detroit, with Kansas a 9.5-point betting favorite (over/under: 145) at WagerWeb.com.

However, if you think this game will be a walkover for the Jayhawks, then you haven't been paying attention to Stephen Curry and Co. during this NCAA tournament.

The Wildcats are on an NCAA-high 25-game winning streak and, behind, Curry, have dominated in the second half of their NCAA tournament games, winning them by an average of 14.3 points against Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin.

All this led by Curry. The son of former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry is averaging 34.3 points in the tournament, best since Bo Kimble of Loyola Marymount averaged 35.8 over four games in 1990. And his 103 points are second only to Glenn Robinson of Purdue (108) for a three-game span since seeding began in 1979.

"It's nothing special I'm doing,' Curry said. "We're just reaping the benefit of our system.'

Yet there is more than Curry. Point guard Jason Richards leads the country in assists and can score for himself, too, averaging 12.9 points per game.

"That's the thing, they have other good players," KU's Russell Robinson said. "Even if we stop Curry, that's not going to secure the game for us. We have to guard everyone."

Robinson will likely be the main player assigned to Curry, along with Mario Chalmers, who leads KU in tournament play, averaging 15.7 points per game.Robinson's tight defense helped hold Villanova star Scottie Reynolds to 11 points in Kansas' 72-57 win Friday night. Reynolds was 4-for-13 from the field with four turnovers and no assists. Meanwhile, Robinson had 15 points and a game-high five assists.He was 3-for-5 from 3-point range.

While Davidson has dominated the second half to win its three games, the Jayhawks have owned the entire game in wins against Portland State, UNLV and Villanova. KU hasn't been challenged yet, winning by an average of 19.3 points per game. The common thread for the Jayhawks has been their guard play, led by Robinson, Chalmers and Brandon Rush, who has played aggressively in each game, averaging 15.3 points and 13 shots. With the guards handling the scoring, a KU big man hasn't registered double-digit points since the Portland State game, but KU will have a huge height advantage on Sunday and could look to pound it inside a little more.

Betting trends: Davidson is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 neutral site games . Davidson is 43-19-1 ATS in its last 63 games overall . under is 7-2 in Kansas's last 9 neutral site games under is 20-8 in Kansas's last 28 non-conference games . Davidson is 22-11 ATS this season overall, KU is 21-14 . Davidson is 15-18 vs. the over/under this season, KU is 17-18.

Prediction: One more win will put the Wildcats in very select company. Only two double-digit seeds have reached the Final Four, and George Mason's run in 2006 captivated the entire country. And KU coach Bill Self has had no luck in the regional finals, going 0-4. However, the Jayhawks just have too much length and to

March Madness odds: Texas vs. Memphis

2008 ncca tournament bracket
2008 ncca tournament schedule
NCAA tournament bracket

Half of the Final Four is set, with two No. 1 seeds already through to San Antonio. Can Memphis and Kansas make it a historic Final Foursome?

The South Region top-seeded Tigers (36-1) would seem to have the much tougher challenge on Sunday, having to face No. 2 seed Texas (31-6) - and in Houston, no less. The Longhorns are expected to have at least 20,000 of the 35,000 fans on their side in the
building.

And both teams play a fast, up tempo style, meaning points should be aplenty - Memphis is a 3.5-point betting favorite with an over/under of 143.5 on WagerWeb.com.

"I think you can erase the shot clock, because I don't think any of us are going to need it," Texas junior guard A.J. Abrams said.

Told that Memphis coach John Calipari threw out a score of 106-102, Texas coach Rick Barnes didn't see anything outrageous about it. He just wanted to know which team would have 106.

The Tigers have cracked the 80-point barrier 18 times this season and hit 90 on eight occasions. The Longhorns have hit 80 in a dozen games and topped 90 five times.

Two of the nation's best point guards will be pushing the action: Freshman Derrick Rose of Memphis and sophomore D.J. Augustin of the Longhorns. However, will Texas sharpshooter Abrams be able to get his shot off against Memphis' 6-6 Antonio Anderson (who totally shut down Michigan State star Drew Neitzel)? Plus, Rose is much bigger than Augustin, so the Tigers' length on the perimeter is a huge plus.The 6-3 Rose erupted for a career-high 27 points against Michigan State, along with five assists and four rebounds. In three NCAA games, he's averaging better than 20 points. Augustin (at 6-foot) piled up 23 points and seven assists against Stanford, and he and Abrams may constitute the nation's best backcourt.

"We are not the biggest guards in the country so we are going to have our hands full," said Abrams, who at 5-foot-11 is four inches shorter than any of Memphis' starters. "At the same time, we know what we have to do, how to read the screens. We'll be fine."

In the frontcourt, Texas center Connor Atchley will make Memphis 6-9 forward Joey Dorsey run all over the place. Memphis 6-9 forward Robert Dozier will be forced to guard the perimeter while matched up with UT swingman Damion James, who has been arguably the team's best player in the tournament, averaging 14.7 points and 10.0 rebounds.

Make no mistake; both teams give more than lip service to defense. The Tigers held Michigan State's Raymar Morgan and Neitzel scoreless in the first half en route to a stunning 50-20 lead. The Longhorns limited Stanford to three field goals and 11 points in nearly the final 13 minutes of their regional semifinal.

Memphis' free-throw shooting woes have been well-documented at only 59.8 percent. However, Texas isn't a whole lot better at 68 percent.

Betting trends: Memphis is 3-8 overall ATS in its last 11 games . Memphis is 16-9-2 overall ATS, Texas is 17-13-1 . Memphis is 20-17 overall against the over/under, while UT is 14-17.

Prediction: Memphis appears to have superior talent. But Barnes is 7-0 in NCAA tournament games in the Lone Star State, and that homecourt advantage does mean something. Plus, all four No. 1 seeds have never made the Final Four, meaning one likely has to lose today - and that's Memphis. Also love the over.

March Madness odds: Louisville vs. North Carolina

2008 ncca tournament bracket
2008 ncca tournament schedule
NCAA tournament bracket


Undoubtedly the marquee matchup of the Elite Eight takes place in the second game Saturday night in the East Regional final between No. 3 seed Louisville and No. 1 overall seed North Carolina, with the Tar Heels 5.5-point betting favorites (154.5 over/under) on WagerWeb.com.

One thing's for sure: It should be the closest either team has played in the NCAA tournament. North Carolina has blown out its three opponents by an average of 30.3 points, and Louisville checks in at 22.3 points.

The location of tonight's game - Charlotte - would seem to be a huge edge for the Heels. The Heels are 8-0 in NCAA Tournament games in Charlotte and haven't had to leave the state since March 1, rolling through the ACC tournament, followed by the first two weekends of the NCAA tournament in Raleigh and Charlotte.

However, Louisville coach Rick Pitino is 3-0 in NCAA Tournament games in Charlotte, including a pair of wins in 1993 that sent Kentucky to the Final Four. Louisville is just 7-7 in NCAA Tournament play in Charlotte overall.

"You guys think it's a heck of a lot bigger advantage than I do," Heels coach Roy Williams said. "I don't believe that crap."

Incidentally, Pitino and Williams are tied with Bob Knight for sixth place in NCAA istory with five Final Four appearances. Tonight's winner will tie Adolph Rupp and Denny Crum for fourth place.

North Carolina's balance has been impressive thus far. When All-American Tyler Hansbrough didn't manage a field goal in the first half Thursday against Washington State, reserve Danny Green scored 15 points. For the tournament, point guard Ty Lawson is averaging 17 points while Wayne Ellington is averaging 16 points on the perimeter to complement Hansbrough inside.

"They're all playing terrific," Pitino said. "It's not one player. They've got great balance. You could make a case for about five, six or seven of their players, which is one of the reasons they're playing great."

David Padgett has been a do-everything center for the Cardinals. Louisville got great defense from reserve wing Earl Clark, who blocked two 3-point shots by Tennessee's Chris Lofton. He can bother the North Carolina shooters. Forward Terrence Williams is perhaps the toughest matchup problem for the Tar Heels.

They key matchup will be Padgett, who was originally recruited by Williams at Kansas and played a year there before transferring when Williams got the UNC job, against Hansbrough."He's a great player, having a great season," Padgett said of his counterpart.

The Cardinals took off this season once Padgett returned from injury. Now pain free, he is averaging 11.4 points and 4.6 rebounds, but his contributions go beyond numbers.

"He's the most experienced player we have on our team," guard Andre McGee said. "He's about 26 years old. He's been playing college basketball for so long. His basketball I.Q. is off the charts."

A pleasant surprise for Pitino has been Clark. In the last seven games, the sophomore has averaged a team-leading 14.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

Expect Louisville to use plenty of the 2-3 zone defenses that was so effective in ending Tennessee's season Thursday night.

The Cardinals have taken that defense to a different level lately. Their size, depth and athleticism allow them to pressure the ball, drop back to clog the inside or close out on perimeter shooters just when an open look seems to beckon. The Vols shot only 34 percent from the field in Thursday's loss and missed 15 of 20 3-pointers.

"They do present a lot of problems with the zone," Williams said. "Part of it is because of their size, but part of it is because of their speed. They can close out on you very quickly."

The Tar Heels are generally more efficient than Louisville on offense, shooting 57.7 percent in the tournament, but Louisville is shooting 55.8 percent in the tournament. The Cardinals' defense has been a constant all season and has been more reliable than UNC's. Oklahoma and Tennessee shot 31.9 percent and 33.9, respectively, against the Cardinals in the past two games.

Betting trends: The Cardinals are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games overall, 4- against the spread in their last four games vs. an ACC opponent and 5-1 against the spread in their last six games versus an opponent with a winning percentage above .600. . UNC is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 Saturday games. Over is 7-3 in UNC's last 10 non-conference games. Over is 7-3-1 in UNC's last 11 overall. UNC is 23-11 ATS overall, Louisville is 20-12-1. UNC is 21-12 vs. over/under, Louisville is 12-20.

Prediction: This should be a stellar matchup, and it's almost a shame it has to take place before the Final Four. Still, you can't argue the Charlotte advantage for UNC. Heels win a close one, and the best bet in this game, I think, is the over.

March Madness odds: Xavier vs. UCLA

2008 ncca tournament bracket
2008 ncca tournament schedule
NCAA tournament bracket

Is this the year all the No. 1s make it to the Final Four for the first time? All four remain alive with the Elite Eight tipping off Saturday night, and the West's top-seeded UCLA Bruins (34-3) are the first to take the court, facing No. 3 Xavier (30-6) in Phoenix.

The Bruins are 6-point betting favorites (over/under: 130) on WagerWeb.com.

UCLA has been arguably the least impressive No. 1 seed lately, barely escaping Texas A&M and then seeing Western Kentucky make a huge comeback in the Sweet 16. Still, the Bruins are one game from their third consecutive Final Four.

Junior swingman Josh Shipp says, "I don't know what to tell you. This is definitely not the way we want to be playing these games. But we're surviving, so we're happy."

Xavier undoubtedly will try to slow things down on Saturday. The Musketeers know the Bruins feast on turnovers, have superior athletes and finish better in the open court.

But will the Musketeers have an answer for Bruins super freshman Kevin Love? He has been tremendous lately -- 29 points and 14 rebounds against Western Kentucky -- but what Xavier did against another super freshman power forward, KSU's Michael Beasley earlier this year, ought to give the Bruins pause as they prepare for tonight's West Regional final. Xavier held Beasley to five points -- 21 below Beasley's average -- and it was the only time he failed to reach double figures all season.

The Musketeers play almost exclusively man-to-man defense, but they don't have to try to defend the 6-10, 271-pound Love with only one player. They have 6-foot-9, 238-pound Josh Duncan, 6-foot-8, 225-pound Derrick Brown and 6-9, 255-pound Jason Love (no relation).

"He is a great player," Duncan said of Kevin Love. "(He's a) very big guy, (and) physical down low. (I've) just got to get ready to accept the challenge and just know I have to bring my 'A' game on defense.
"You have to be aggressive. Obviously, he is a real big guy, like I said, physical down low. I just have to be aggressive ... and depend on my teammates to help me when I need help."

Meanwhile, 5-foot-7 Drew Lavender has been Xavier's most important player during the tournament.

In Xavier's first three tourney games, Lavender has averaged 13.3 points and six assists per game. Lavender went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the final minute of an 85-78 victory over Purdue in the second round, finishing with 18 points and nine assists.

Lavender has a total of six turnovers in 106 high-pressure minutes. That might be the most important statistic on a team that depends on ball movement to spread the scoring load.

"I don't think he turns the ball over a lot," UCLA point guard Darren Collison said. "Any time you have good point guard play, you go far in the tournament. Obviously, he led his team to the Elite Eight for a reason."

Coming into the game, five Xavier players are averaging 10 or more points, with Duncan the leader at just 12.7. But UCLA has limited 20 teams to 60 or fewer points this season and is undefeated when doing so.

Betting trends: Over is 7-1 in Xavier's last 8 non-conference games. Over is 8-2 in Xavier's last 10 neutral site games. Xavier is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 Saturday games. Over is 6-2 in UCLA's last 8 Saturday games. Xavier is 16-16 ATS overall, UCLA is 20-14-2. Xavier is 16-16 vs. over/under, UCLA is 18-18.

Prediction: The Musketeers, including in NCAA play, have faced 11 teams that made the field and their record is 9-4, so this wouldn't be that much of an upset if they won tonight. But the Bruins have too much experience on this stage to lose - they won't, but they also won't cover the number.

NASCAR odds: Goody's Cool Orange 500

After a rare week off, NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series returns this week with a stop at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday for the Goody's Cool Orange 500.

Perhaps this is the week Jimmie Johnson shakes off his poor start to the season. Johnson's past three races have ended with finishes of 18th, 30th and 29th. At this point last year, Johnson had two wins on the way to a career-high 10. He was third in the point standings. This year he is a very uncharacteristic 13th. His previous low through five races was eighth in 2003, his second season.

However, he is the defending champ here and has four career wins at this short track, including the past three races at NASCAR's oldest venue. His average finish is 6.2, and his 120.8 driver rating is second-best during the past three seasons, behind the 124.5 of Jeff Gordon, a seven-time winner at Martinsville.

"There are certain rhythms at Martinsville that I fortunately found and picked up after my first year of being there," Johnson said. "My first race, I did not have the rhythm of the track, and there are a lot of components that go into it."

Johnson finished 35th in his first race at Martinsville. He has finished no worse than ninth in He should get some major competition from Gordon. You have to go back to 2004 to find the last time Gordon finished outside the top five at Martinsville, and he was ninth in October and sixth in April that year. In 30 career starts at Martinsville, Gordon has 18 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes. He comes into Sunday's race ranked 14th in the points standings.

All told, Gordon and Johnson have combined to win eight of the past 10 races at Martinsville. No wonder they are the betting favorites this week on WagerWeb.com.Newcomer Dale Earnhardt Jr., currently the highest-ranked Hendrick Motorsports driver in the Cup standings (fifth place), hasn't been half-bad at Martinsville during his previous stint with former team Dale Earnhardt Inc., either. While Junior has yet to win his first race there, he has seven top-five finishes in 16 career starts.

"Honestly, what has been between me and Victory Lane is Hendrick Motorsports. They have an amazing run going at Martinsville," Earnhardt said. "I run well there due to my short track background, but I seemed to always find myself finishing behind my new teammates."

Hendrick Motorsports could use a win by Gordon, Johnson or Junior. The same organization that has claimed the last two Cup season championships and won 18 of 36 races last season has yet to reach victory lane in 2008.

Tony Stewart says the beating and banging at Martinsville will still be the same, but thanks to the Car of Tomorrow, cars in the wall will be down.

"With these cars, you don't have accidents and the accidental bumping that turns guys around like it use to, with the bumpers matching up like they do now. If you get into a deal, and a guy checks up in front of you, and you run into him on accident, and the guy behind you hits you, you're not going to spin each other out. That kind of makes this stuff fun again, where you're not worried about having to explain to somebody, 'Hey it was an accident. I didn't mean for that to happen,' “says Stewart.

One non-Hendrick driver to watch is Denny Hamlin, who also has a strong resume here: He has four top-10 finishes at Martinsville in five starts.

You may want to stay away from betting on Carl Edwards, however. Mr. Backflip has won two of the first five races but has never had a top-10 finish at Martinsville in seven starts.

March Madness odds: Stanford vs. Texas

2008 ncca tournament bracket
2008 ncca tournament schedule
NCAA tournament bracket


Friday night's South Regional semifinal between No. 3 seed StanfordTexas will be contrasting styles, with the Longhorns 2-point betting favorites (over/under: 134.5) on WagerWeb.com.

The Cardinal like to pound it down low with the 7-foot Lopez twins, who are shooting 61 percent combined so far in the tournament, with Brook going for 30 points and the game-winning shot against Marquette.

Brook averages 19.0 points per game and 14.3 shots a game, five more than anybody else on the team. That doesn't factor in all the times he has been fouled while shooting. He attempts seven free throws a game. Robin, meanwhile, averages 10.3 points.

Stanford takes an impressive 14 offensive rebounds a game, including 2.8 by Brook Lopez. The Cardinal outrebound opponents by eight a game, including both ends of the court. Stanford has depth as well up front. Lawrence Hill and Taj Finger, both 6-8, combine to play 41 minutes a game.

Horns coach Rick Barnes said this one of those games in which he will likely rely on all of his big reserves, all of whom are inexperienced: 6-10 Dexter Pittman, 6-7 Alexis Wangmene, 6-7 Gary Johnson and 6-10 Clint Chapman. Pittman is a sophomore, the other three freshmen.

"There's no question we'll have to have all those guys ready," Barnes said.

Swingman Damion James will play a big role as well. He was awesome against Miami with 16 points, 16 rebounds, three blocked shots and three 3-pointers.

Texas, meanwhile, has a stellar backcourt in A.J. Abrams and D.J. Augustin. Abrams has hit six 3-pointers and scored 26 points in each of the Longhorns' two NCAA Tournament victories. Augustin, the team's leading scorer at 19.2 ppg, will attack the paint, then kick the ball out to Abrams or attack the goal to try and get the Lopez twins in foul trouble."They're good off the dribble," Stanford coach Trent Johnson said. "We have to defend them like we've been doing. We treat every game like another game. Sure, the magnitude of the game is greater, but, it's just another game. The kids have to understand that."

Texas has also been successful in forcing turnovers and opponent miscues. They've forced opponents into 437 turnovers, 92 more than Texas has turned it over.

Stanford has turned the ball over 23 more times than its opponent, although it has been better of late.

Cardinal point guard Mitch Johnson had a great game against Marquette, with 16 assists and one turnover. Johnson has 180 assists on the year to 75 turnovers, a ratio of 2.4-to-1, the best in the Pac-10 and 25th in the nation.

He'll need to continue that ratio against pressure-heavy Texas.

Against the spread: Stanford 18-17, Texas 16-13-1.

Over/under records: Stanford 16-18, Texas 13-17.

Prediction: Texas has more in the frontcourt than Stanford has in the backcourt, assuming the teams' other strengths even out. Plus the game is in Houston, so a massive advantage there. Horns win and cover. and No. 2

March Madness odds: Villanova vs. Kansas

2008 ncca tournament bracket
2008 ncca tournament schedule
NCAA tournament bracket


If history is any indication, top-seeded Kansas (33-3) will win Friday night's Midwest Regional semifinal against No. 12 seed Villanova

Since the NCAA Tournament expanded its field to 64 teams in 1985, a team seeded 12th has lost to the No. 1 seed 13 times without a single victory.

Not to mention the Jayhawks lead the nation in scoring margin (20.0 points per game); have shot nearly 51 percent from the field; have scored 80 or more points 20 times; has four players 6-9 or taller; hold opponents to just 38 percent shooting; and have five players averaging 9.5 points or better, including leading scorers Darrell Arthur, a forward, and guard Brandon Rush, who both average 13 points.

The Jawhawks' losses are to Texas (72-69), Kansas State (84-75) and Oklahoma State (61-60). Kansas, a 12-point betting favorite on WagerWeb.com, has won nine straight.

Villanova coach Jay Wright said watching films of the Jayhawks "impressed me a lot." With a laugh, he added, "and discouraged me a little bit."

But the Wildcats have seen their share of tough opponents this season as well. In the Big East Conference, they played tournament teams Georgetown, Louisville, West Virginia, Marquette, Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame.

"I think us being in the Big East is an advantage," guard Reggie Redding said. "We get to match up against different teams every night who are going to bring it. The versatility that we have as a team, I think we can match up against anybody in the country."Villanova is a guard-oriented team led by sophomore Scottie Reynolds. He scored 21 points in the ildcats' first-round win against No. 5 seed Clemson and 25 in he next round against No. 13 Siena. Reynolds totaled even more assists, shot 14 of 29 from the floor, and was 8-for-12 on 3s in 72 minutes.

Other than Reynolds (16.0 points) and power forward Dante Cunningham (10.4 points, 6.5 rebounds), the Wildcats aren't very experienced and they're small.

But the maturation of three freshmen - guards Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher, along with forward Antonio Pena - and the insertion of little-used junior Dwayne Anderson helped Villanova regroup from a five-game losing streak. Since losing to Saint Joseph's, 77-55, on Feb. 4 and falling to 13-8, the Wildcats went 7-4 through the Big East season, all the losses to top 20 teams.

However, Villanova will be without sophomore Casiem Drummond, who broke his ankle in the first half of last weekend's second-round game against Siena. His loss leaves Villanova's tallest players at 6-foot-8.

"Cas was a great player, and he can come in at any time and give you a break in the inside," Cunningham said. "It definitely changes things."

Not only will Drummond's big body be unavailable, but so will his five fouls, an often-needed token of depth when going against the likes of KU's Arthur, Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun.

Against the spread: Villanova 14-17, Kansas 20-14.

Prediction: Wildcats cover, barely. (22-12). Why am I so sure?

March Madness odds: Michigan St. vs. Memphis

Of the four No. 1 seeds in action during the Sweet 16, Memphis would seem to have the biggest chance to be upset even though the Tigers are 4.5-point betting favorites (o/u: 136.5) against No. 5 seed Michigan State on WagerWeb.com.

Spartans coach Tom Izzo always has his team playing well in the tournament as he goes for his fourth Final Four berth. Izzo preaches defense, and his team has responded.

Pitt shot just 32.7 percent against the Spartans, while Temple shot 37.5 percent.

Memphis coach John Calipari said part of Izzo's success in March is the style of play.

"They're always really, really good defensively,' Calipari said. "They're always one of the best rebounding teams in the country. They play you around the basket. You're not getting any easy baskets. They really body up as well as anybody else. They play a grind-it-out game offensively, and they're used to every possession matters for them because you're not going to have a lot.

'However, while most experts say Michigan State needs to play a slowdown game to upset Memphis, Izzo begs to differ.

"I do see this as an up-and-down game," he said. "I hope it is an up-and-down game because I think we have enough depth and we can run, and they are going to run."

With All-American freshman guard Derrick Rose running the show, Memphis is averaging just fewer than 80 points per game compared to MSU's 71, so Izzo does not necessarily want to see the game get into the 90s."What I hope we do is somewhat stop some of their fast break, or, contain it would be a better word because I don't think you're going to stop it," Izzo said.

Michigan State will need a big effort from its backcourt on Friday. Senior Drew Neitzel scored 21 points, hitting 5 of 8 from 3-point range, against Pittsburgh, while freshman Kalin Lucas got into the lane at will and scored 19 points.

Neitzel is capable of carrying the Spartans. But, he has scored six or fewer points five times since February started -- Michigan State is 1-4 in those games.

Memphis' biggest advantage is its depth of quick perimeter defenders -- six guards average at least 14 minutes per game -- so look for the Tigers to be aggressive, try to create turnovers and get a few easy fastbreak baskets early.

Memphis wins a track meet -- it has scored fewer than 72 just once in nine games; the Spartans have scored more than 72 just once in nine games.

Meanwhile, Memphis' main Achilles' heel, free-throw shooting, figures to catch up to it sooner or later. After shooting poorly throughout the season, the Tigers made only 15 of 32 free throws and sank only five of 12 over the final 48 seconds in a close win against Mississippi State in Round 2. The Tigers haven't seemed worried about their free-throw shooting all season and didn't change their tune after the Mississippi State game.

Calipari even joked: "What I'm taking great pride in, we won it with a free throw - Chris's free throw (with three seconds left). So all that stuff about our free-throw shooting now goes out the window, I guess."

Rebounding has been an asset for the Tigers throughout the season and it proved so against Mississippi State. The Tigers outrebounded the Bulldogs 45-37, grabbed 19 offensive rebounds and scored 22 second-chance points. Joey Dorsey, Memphis' top inside presence, had 12 rebounds to lead the way.

"Our goal was 15. I said if we can get 15 offensive rebounds, we'll win the game," Calipari said.

Against the spread: Michigan St. 15-14-2, Memphis 15-19-2.

Over/under records: MSU 16-15, Memphis 19-17.

Prediction: No one seems to respect Memphis, and, yes, the free throws will be their downfall in the end. Just not Friday. The Tigers cover.

March Madness odds: Villanova vs. Kansas

If history is any indication, top-seeded Kansas (33-3) will win Friday night's Midwest Regional semifinal against No. 12 seed Villanova (22-12). Why am I so sure?

Since the NCAA Tournament expanded its field to 64 teams in 1985, a team seeded 12th has lost to the No. 1 seed 13 times without a single victory.

Not to mention the Jayhawks lead the nation in scoring margin (20.0 points per game); have shot nearly 51 percent from the field; have scored 80 or more points 20 times; has four players 6-9 or taller; hold opponents to just 38 percent shooting; and have five players averaging 9.5 points or better, including leading scorers Darrell Arthur, a forward, and guard Brandon Rush, who both average 13 points.

The Jawhawks' losses are to Texas (72-69), Kansas State (84-75) and Oklahoma State (61-60). Kansas, a 12-point betting favorite on WagerWeb.com, has won nine straight.

Villanova coach Jay Wright said watching films of the Jayhawks "impressed me a lot." With a laugh, he added, "and discouraged me a little bit."

But the Wildcats have seen their share of tough opponents this season as well. In the Big East Conference, they played tournament teams Georgetown, Louisville, West Virginia, Marquette, Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame.

"I think us being in the Big East is an advantage," guard Reggie Redding said. "We get to match up against different teams every night who are going to bring it. The versatility that we have as a team, I think we can match up against anybody in the country."Villanova is a guard-oriented team led by sophomore Scottie Reynolds. He scored 21 points in the Wildcats' first-round win against No. 5 seed Clemson and 25 in the next round against No. 13 Siena. Reynolds totaled seven more assists, shot 14 of 29 from the floor, and was 8-for-12 on 3s in 72 minutes.

Other than Reynolds (16.0 points) and power forward Dante Cunningham (10.4 points, 6.5 rebounds), the Wildcats aren't very experienced and they're small.

But the maturation of three freshmen - guards Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher, along with forward Antonio Pena - and the insertion of little-used junior Dwayne Anderson helped Villanova regroup from a five-game losing streak. Since losing to Saint Joseph's, 77-55, on Feb. 4 and falling to 13-8, the Wildcats went 7-4 through the Big East season, all the losses to top 20 teams.

However, Villanova will be without sophomore Casiem Drummond, who broke his ankle in the first half of last weekend's second-round game against Siena. His loss leaves Villanova's tallest players at 6-foot-8.

"Cas was a great player, and he can come in at any time and give you a break in the inside," Cunningham said. "It definitely changes things."

Not only will Drummond's big body be unavailable, but so will his five fouls, an often-needed token of depth when going against the likes of KU's Arthur, Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun.

Against the spread: Villanova 14-17, Kansas 20-14.

Prediction: Wildcats cover, barely.

Golf odds: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

The PGA Tour begins its stretch drive into the Masters with a stop in New Orleans this week for the Zurich Classic.

And the first thing all golf fans (and bettors) want to know is: whether Tiger Woods is in the field.

Tiger won't play this week nor next week in Houston as he prepares on his own for Augusta.

However, New Orleans does have one of its better fields in memory (five of the world's Top 20) even without the world No. 1 (Woods) or No. 2 (Phil Mickelson) or No. 3 (Ernie Els).

World No. 4 Steve Stricker (+750 at WagerWeb.com) is coming off a closing 9-under-par 63 at Doral to finish tied for sixth at the CA Championship. He has just one top-10 finish in New Orleans, but has been a steady performer there with seven of his nine appearances resulting in 26th place or better.

Jim Furyk, the No. 9 player in the world, will be playing in New Orleans for the first time since 1996 and is coming off his best finish of the season (T-2 at Doral). He is the WagerWeb.com betting favorite at +650.

Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen (+1000) is making only his second career appearance at the Zurich Classic after tying for 25th in 2006.

Padraig Harrington (+875), the 2007 British Open champ, will also play this week -- for the third time in his career; he has three Top 20s on his Tour stops this year."I'm happy with my game, but I'm tinkering with a number of things," Harrington said. "I'm always tinkering. You can get to a point where you feel good, you feel OK, about different parts of your game, driving, bunker play, short game, putting. But you know what? In this game, OK is never enough. Never, ever."

First-time winners have dominated in the Crescent City. Last year, Nick Watney became the third consecutive first-time winner of this event and the fifth in the past six years. Watney was the 16th player to make the Zurich Classic his first win.

Watney, who has two top-10 finishes since his victory, including a tie for fifth at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, comes into the week 122nd in the Official World Golf Ranking, making him the second-lowest ranked player to defend a title thus far in 2008.

Here are some other players to watch:

Jeff Maggert has made 6-of-7 cuts this year and he ran 11th at New Orleans last year.

Daniel Chopra has finished 15th and 9th the two times this event has been held at TPC Louisiana.

Woody Austin also has fared well in the two stops at TPC Louisiana (18th, 5th).

Zach Johnson has been perfect on his attempts to make the cut (6/6) in 2008 and posted his best set of four rounds of the year last weekend at Doral on the way to a T-9.

One player who possibly could have been a factor despite his recent struggles was David Toms, who knows the course well as a former All-American at LSU.

But the 2001 champion of the event withdrew from the tournament with a back injury and won't play next week in Houston either as he hopes to get healthy for the Masters.

March Madness odds: Wisconsin vs. Davidson

2008 ncca tournament bracket
2008 ncca tournament schedule
NCAA tournament bracket


Raise your hand if you had Davidson facing Wisconsin in the Sweet 16. Didn't think so.

Well, the third-seeded Badgers (31-4) do face the 10th-seeded Wildcats (28-6) in the Midwest Regional semifinals at Ford Field in Detroit on Friday night, with Wisconsin 4.5-point betting favorites at WagerWeb.com, and it's Davidson that is the story of the NCAA Tournament thus far.

The Wildcats, who have the nation's longest winning streak at 24 games, are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1969. And Stephen Curry has become a national name because of his scoring in the first two rounds.

Curry went for 40 against Gonzaga and 30 against Georgetown. He is shooting 51 percent in the tournament, including 52 percent from 3-point range. In second halves alone, he is averaging 27.5 points per game. Against the Hoyas, Davidson trailed by 11 at halftime and as many as 16 early in the second half but came storming back behind the shooting of Curry, who scored 25 of his 30 points after the break.

Curry's 70 points in two tournament games account for 45 percent of the Wildcats' scoring. He and point guard Jason Richards, the nation's assists leader, accounted for 105 of their team's 156 points in the opening weekend.

The Badgers will use a dogged man-to-man look that produced the nation's leading defense, which allows just 53.9 points per game, and third-toughest to shoot against, at 38 percent. Each of Wisconsin's past nine opponents has shot 42 percent or less from the field.

"They work as five fingers on a hand," Davidson coach Bob McKillop said. "That is what makes them so effective. They can put tremendous pressure on the ball with an individual knowing that they have great support with four other guys."Michael Flowers, regarded as one of the nation's best defensive players, will be the primary defender on Curry.

"If he beats me making one move, make sure he doesn't beat me with the same move twice," Flowers said of his strategy. "If he has a go-to move, then try to take that go-to move away and make him beat me on his own.

"You know, he's going to get his points, and all my life my mom told me that people are going to score on you and what not, but you just have to make them work for it. At the end of the game, no matter if he has eight points or 12 or 34, I will want him to say that he had to work for every point he got."

The Wisconsin defense held Cal State Fullerton to 56 points in Round 1 and K-State to 55 to reach the Sweet 16. KSU, in fact, missed on all 13 of its 3-point attempts against the Badgers.

Offensively, the Badgers are balanced, making the most of their deliberate possessions in coach Bo Ryan's patented swing offense.

"The guys that are a part of the team and the experience we had last year, we knew numbers don't matter, we still have to go out and produce," Wisconsin forward Greg Stiemsma said. "We just try to control the things we have control over and that's preparation, execution. We've been doing a better job of that down the stretch this year."

Trevon Hughes was the star against K-State, pouring in a career-high-tying 25 points as he drilled 4 of 9 3-pointers. Six different Badgers overall have scored in double figures so far in the tourney.

Prediction: Davidson hadn't beaten a ranked opponent under Bob McKillop heading into the NCAA Tournament this year. But after two games in this year's tourney, the Wildcats are 2-for-2 against teams ranked in the Top 25. You would think that Davidson's rebounding troubles would finally catch up to it, however. It will: Wisconsin ends the Cinderella run and covers.

NBA odds: Suns vs. Celtics

If you need your basketball fix on Wednesday night and can’t wait until the NCAA Tournament returns, you could do worse than watching a potential NBA Finals preview in Boston between the Celtics and Suns, with Phoenix 5-point betting underdogs at WagerWeb.com.

Actually, both teams could rather use a win – Phoenix’s seven-game winning streak ended Monday and Detroit, while Boston has dropped two games in a row but does still hold a five-game lead and the tiebreaker over Detroit for the No. 1 seed in the East with 12 games to play.

In the teams’ first meeting this year, Feb. 22, the Celtics played one of their worst games of the season. It resulted in an 85-77 Phoenix win that wasn’t as close as the score indicated.

That was the Celtics’ lowest point total of the season and Phoenix’s stingiest defensive effort of 2007-08.

Several factors worked in Phoenix’s favor that day. Boston was playing its third road game in four nights and both Paul Pierce (2-for-13 shooting, five points) and Ray Allen (3-for-12, 11 points) had off performances.


The loss in Phoenix was the third straight on a 2-3 western road trip last month, marking the C’s only three-game losing streak of the season - which they will try to avoid tonight.

However, since Steve Nash began his second go-round in Phoenix, the Suns are 6-1 against Boston, including a 3-0 road mark in Beantown. In the one loss, Nash sat out with a sore hamstring.

And Phoenix’s offense is humming, as the Suns have shot at least 50 percent for seven straight games and are averaging 118.6 points and shooting 56.4 percent in that stretch. Nash is shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor in those seven games.The Suns have the opportunity to become the first Western Conference team to beat Boston twice this season. But after starting out 22-2 vs. the East, they have lost three straight (Detroit twice and Philadelphia).

Amar Stoudemire can become the first Sun to score 30 or more points in three consecutive games since Shawn Marion in 2006.

Boston is allowing just 90.4 points per game and opponents are shooting just 41.9 percent, both tops in the league. Its magic number to clinch the East is seven, while the Suns are just battling to make the playoffs in the tight West.

"These games are crucial to us, too," Boston’s Kevin Garnett said. "We are trying to establish something, and a rhythm going into the playoffs. So these are big games for us, too, just as it is for all the other teams coming in here."

Garnett, a leading MVP candidate, is in the top 30 in the league in rebounds (16th, 9.5), field-goal percentage (14th, 53.4), steals (17th, 1.43) and blocks (30th, 1.25) and is second on the team in scoring (18.8).

Boston forward James Posey, who missed the team’s last game to tend to what was described as family business, is expected to be in uniform tonight.

ATS	Phoenix	Boston
Record:	47-23-0 (.671)	55-15-0 (.786)
As Favorite:	45-17-0 (.726)	48-11-0 (.814)
As Underdog:	2-6-0 (.250)	7-4-0 (.636)
At Home:	26-10-0 (.722)	29-6-0 (.829)
On Road:	21-13-0 (.618)	26-9-0 (.743)

March Madness odds: Louisville vs. Tennessee

2008 ncca tournament bracket
2008 ncca tournament schedule
NCAA tournament bracket


The final NCAA Tournament game taking place on Thursday night might be the best matchup of the entire Sweet 16 - No. 3 seed Louisville and No. 2 Tennessee (31-4) in an East Regional semifinal in Charlotte, with the Cardinals 2.5-point betting favorites on WagerWeb.com.

Louisville is favored despite being the lower seed, and part of that could be due to UT star Chris Lofton's status and struggles.

Lofton, a senior guard and the team's leading scorer at 15.5 points per game, apparently "tweaked" his ankle during Tennessee's 76-71 win over Butler in the second round.

Team spokesman Craig Pinkerton says Lofton wore a walking boot on his foot as a precaution while the Vols rested on Monday but was expected to play on Thursday.

Lofton had two forgettable games in the NCAA wins. He had only one field goal and missed all five of his 3-point attempts against American and scored only nine points against Butler. In the two games combined, he was 4-for-18 from the field and only 3-for-12 on 3-pointers.

There's no doubt he'll play, but he'll need to be 100 percent for the Vols to reach the Elite Eight for the first time.

The Cardinals just equaled their biggest winning margin in their tournament history, a 78-48 blowout of sixth-seeded Oklahoma in the second round. Louisville has outscored its opponents by 48 in their first two NCAA tournament games, the Vols only 20.

The Cards weren't truly pushed by Boise State or Oklahoma in the first two rounds. The Cards are making 3s (12 against Boise State and nine against Oklahoma) and limiting their opponents' 3s (4 of 17 for the Broncos and 5 of 18 for the Sooners). The Cardinals have shot over 50 percent in both their tournament games, including 59 percent against Oklahoma.

"I definitely think we are playing our best basketball right now," Louisville forward Terrance Farley said. "We are really clicking right now. We're really focusing in and getting wins."The Vols were only 5-of-19 on 3s against Butler. Committing 20 turnovers against the Bulldogs also is concerning.

Louisville beats you with its defense and rebounding. The Cardinals are deep, tall, long and fast. They come at you with a variety of pressure, using mostly a zone.

In its eight losses this season, U of L has made only 26.2 percent of its 3-point shots, so that is a key stat to watch.

UL's Earl Clark is on a tear in March. The sophomore forward is averaging 15 points his last three games, a figure he matched against Boise State.

Meanwhile, for both games in the NCAA Tournament, UT coach Bruce Pearl has started J.P. Prince at the point guard position in place of Ramar Smith.

Smith started for much of the Southeastern Conference season. But Pearl went with Prince because of Smith's lackluster play in recent weeks.

Prince played like a regular for nearly all of his 31 minutes on the floor against Butler, scoring nine points on 4-for-5 shooting to go with seven rebounds, five assists and a block. But also six turnovers.

"J.P. is a stat sheet stuffer,' Pearl said. "We got a situation where I felt like we needed (Prince) on the floor more because he makes great things happen. I think he makes everyone else out there better.'

Pearl didn't say who would start Thursday.

Both the Vols and Cardinals like to move up and down the floor, and neither team shoots free throws very well. They both hit about 65 percent. Louisville's David Padgett, a 6-11 senior who averages in double figures, could be a tough matchup inside for the Vols.

Prediction: Louisville is playing as well as anyone and will set up a mammoth clash with North Carolina by beating Tennessee - and covering.

March Madness odds: Washington St. vs. North Carolina

2008 ncca tournament bracket
2008 ncca tournament schedule
NCAA tournament bracket


No team in the NCAA Tournament has looked more impressive heading into the Sweet 16 than No. 1 overall seed North Carolina.

The Heels routed Mount St. Mary's and Arkansas, scoring 100-plus points in both games. The offense is clicking at its best pace this season, as the Heels made a whopping 50 percent of their 3s and 67.7 percent of their shots in running away from the Razorbacks.

"We were pretty doggone good," UNC coach Roy Williams said of the effort.

That's why Thursday night's East Regional semfinal against No. 4 seed Washington State might be so fun, with the Heels currently 8-point betting favorites on WagerWeb.com.

The Cougars, who haven't been this far since 1941, held Winthrop to 40 points, 11 in the second half, in the first round. Wazzu then dismantled Notre Dame, holding the Irish to 41. Neither Winthrop nor Notre Dame shot better than 31 percent against Washington State.

"There's a big collision coming," said second-year Washington State coach Tony Bennett. "Isn't there?"

Washington State averages only 67 points per game, so it isn't likely to outscore Tyler Hansbrough and company, who average nearly 90.

"They are the most impressive team in the country in getting down the floor and scoring in transition, on your misses and makes," Bennett said. "We are playing against extreme talent."

The Cougars will counter with the nation's second-best defense, which is allowing 56 points per game – only 48 points to opponents outside the Pac-10.

Big Aron Baynes is one of the few players who can match up physically with Hansbrough, but Baynes must be careful not to pick up early fouls defending Hansbrough's quick moves. The Cougars will try to keep the ball out of Hansbrough's hands, a strategy that worked against Notre Dame big man Luke Harangody, who was held to 10 points -- half his average.Bennett describes Hansbrough as "probably the player of the year in the country." The 6-foot-9, 250-pound junior leads the Tar Heels with 22.8 points per game (11th in the nation) and 10.2 rebounds (17th).

"I think we can bother them," the Cougars' Kyle Weaver said. "It's hard to stop a team, to shut a team down, like North Carolina. But I think we can slow them down."

Ty Lawson leads the Tar Heels in scoring in the NCAA Tournament with 40 points. He was 13 of 28 from the field overall (four of seven on 3-pointers) and had 11 assists against no turnovers in the two games.

The Tar Heels and Cougars are comparable in size, but North Carolina leads the nation with an average rebound advantage of 11.6 per game. WSU ranks 152nd at 0.6.

Washington State will need big games from senior guards Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver to stay close. Low, the team's leading scorer had 18 in the win against Notre Dame, while Weaver had 15.

UNC also will have a huge homecourt advantage Thursday in that the game is being played in Charlotte. Think that doesn't matter? Teams playing second-round games in their home states shot an average of seven more free throws than their opponents. And UNC is 23-1 in NCAA games in the state.

This will be the 26th time that WSU is playing the No. 1 team in the nation -- always another Pac-10 team -- and it has lost all 25 of the previous games.